In the early morning hours of August 9, 2020, the life of 18-year-old William Irizarry was tragically cut short in a hail of bullets on the 300 block of Centre Street in Trenton, New Jersey. A male city resident, Irizarry was the victim of what authorities would later describe as a targeted, gang-related attack.
Around 7:30 a.m., Trenton police responded to a report of a shooting in progress.
Upon arrival, they discovered Irizarry lying in the street, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds throughout his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A second 18-year-old victim, Julius Vargas, was found inside a nearby corner market with a gunshot wound and succumbed to his injuries at the hospital shortly after.
The investigation into the double homicide revealed a chilling sequence of events. Detectives learned that a black Chrysler 300 with Pennsylvania license plates had been circling the area before the shooting. The vehicle then parked, and its occupants watched Irizarry and Vargas for several minutes. Two individuals, later identified as Tyzir Hamilton and Treizon Thompson, exited the car and opened fire on the two teenagers. As Irizarry attempted to flee into the street, the gunmen pursued him, continuing to shoot even after he had fallen to the ground. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Darnell Davis.
Authorities determined that the motive for the brutal slaying was connected to a gang feud. It was discovered that Irizarry had posted a photo on his Facebook page that was considered disrespectful to the H-Block gang, an act that is believed to have provoked the violent retaliation. The Chrysler 300 used in the commission of the crime was later found to have been stolen from Bensalem, Pennsylvania, a few days prior to the shooting.
Following a thorough investigation, law enforcement officials arrested Hamilton, Thompson, and Davis. They faced a string of charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and weapons offenses. In September 2023, both Tyzir Hamilton and Treizon Thompson were convicted on all counts. In January 2024, they were each sentenced to 60 years in state prison without the possibility of parole.
